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Local Science Teachers Selected to Participate in Sanford Research Fellowship Program

(Sioux Falls, SD) – Seven middle and high school science teachers from the Sioux Falls region have been selected to participate in a 10-week Science Educator Research Fellowship program, offered through Sanford Research and a $482,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

“We are excited to begin working with these talented educators,” said Pete Vitiello, PhD, an Associate Scientist with the Sanford Children's Health Research Center. “Their participation is crucial to ensuring that students throughout the Midwest will have an understanding of how science and technology are used every day during biomedical research applications.”

This new program, which will be offered annually, provides training in health research as Fellows conduct independent community-based or biomedical research under the supervision of a Sanford scientist at the Sanford Research Center in Sioux Falls. Through this program, Fellows will gain a deeper appreciation and better understanding of health research approaches for meaningful translation into their classroom activities.

This year’s Fellows are:

Michael Amolins, Harrisburg

Kay Bass, Harrisburg

Kim Borkowski, Wessington Springs

Laura Mehlbrech, Washington (Sioux Falls)

Steve Ortmeier, Lincoln (Sioux Falls)

Jamie Tucker, Sioux Valley (Volga)

Angel Wachal, Harrisburg

The Fellows program builds off of The Sanford PROMISE, a Sanford Research catalyst for STEM education in the Midwest as rural communities across Sanford’s footprint are experiencing workforce growth across health care, research, and technology-related fields.

Initiated last year, The Sanford PROMISE connects students, educators and communities with science and research in meaningful ways, and ultimately prepares and inspires our next generation of scientists. The goal of The Sanford PROMISE is to create opportunities where thinking is visible for students of all ages.